Compartment letter-box.



1. A. DIDSCHUNEIT COMPARTMENT LETTER 80X.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 16. 191a.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET l- INVENTOR ATTORNEY 1. A. DIDSCHUNEIT.

COMPARTMENT LETTER BOX.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.16. I918.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A'FTORNEY JULIUS A. DIDSCHUNEIT, 0F IBISHOPVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA.

COMPARTMENT LETTER-BOX.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JULIUS A. DIDSGHU- NEIT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bishopville, in the county of Lee and State of South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Compartment Letter-Boxes, of which the follow-' ing is a specification. v

This invention relates to letter boxes and particularly to letter boxes designed for rural delivery service provided with compartments, and has for its primary object to provide such a box with a compartment for letters to be collected by the postman, a second compartment for letters distributed by the postman, and a compartment for parcel post and other packages. These compartments have separate openings for the insertion therein of letters and packages, but a single closure serves to render them accessible to the postman and to the proprietor of the box.

Furthermore the box is provided with the usual pivotally mounted signal flag which flag is so connected to the box as to render diflicult the insertion of letters in the outgoin compartment without first elevating the ag into vertical position. There is also provided means for opening the bottom of the outgoing compartment so that all letters left therein and also money to pay for postage may be dropped into a chute for ready collection by the postman without the necessity of unlocking the closure.

With the above as the principal objects in view, the invention consists in a novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which;

Figure 1 is an elevation of one side of the improved letter box.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of one end of the same. i

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the opposlte end of the letter box.

Fig. 4 is a vertical central section of the letter box on the line 4.l of Fig. 1.

Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views of the box on the lines 5-5 and 6'-6 respectively,

and, y

Fig. 7 is an end view of the lower portion of the letter box similar to Fig. 2 with a portion broken away and the closure in open position.

In the drawings, the letter box which is Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Ngv, 12, 1918,

Application filed February 16, 1918.

Serial No. 217,584.

it forms a support for a plate 16 inclined upwardly from theside 15 away from the side 10 where it is connected to an outside wall 17 that extends downwardly from the top of-the box substantially halfway to the bottom thereof. Between the upper end of the side 15, the wall 17 and below the plate 16 is a compartment A having a pivoted bottom 18' lying normally horizontal at the lower edge of the wall 17. This compartment A forms a receptacle to receive mail matter for collection by the postman and is provided at one end with a slot 19 for the insertion of letters, said slot being covered in the usual manner with a downwardly swinging gravity door or shutter 20.

The bottom of the compartment A is supported by end pivots 21 and 22 mounted in sockets in the ends 13 and 14 of the letter box, the pivot 22 passing through the wall of said box and has rigidly connected thereto a staff 23 which carries the signal flag 24: on its upper end. The pivot 22 is also provided with a finger piece 25 by means of which the bottom 18 and flag stafi may be turned. The position of the letter drop opening 19 with relation to the bottom 18 is such that when the flag is turned downward, the bottom 18 will lie across the opening 19, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 and so prevents the insertion of a letter into compartment A. It therefore becomes necessary for the bottom 18 to be turned into its normal horizontal position which movement will elevate the flag and so be a signal tothe posttom for compartment B and a top for com- '29 and thus prevent, as much'as partment C, the former compartment servmg as a receptacle for letters delivered by the postman and is provided with an opening 29in the wall 17 for the insertion thereinto of letters and papers, these articles be ing received upon the mclined plate 16, slide down the same into the lower portion of the compartment and fall upon the dpartition 28.

The opening 29 is protecte from the weather by a hinged drop 30 of the usual form. The to 12 which forms a cover for compartment is convexly curved and lower at its connection to the side 10 than to the wall 17 for the purpose of causin the rain fallin upon the open top to run 0 the same onv t e side opposite the opening possible, rain entering the letter box.

One end .of the compartment 0 and that rtion of the same end .of compartment B below the horizontal line extending from th bottom ofthe inclined plate 16 is closed by a swing 'ng end door 31 pivoted to the side 10 and secured by means of a lock 32 of the usual type found on letter boxes.

This door prevents access to compartments B and C but when opened the proprietor of. the box may collect all letters and papersfrom compartment B and'any packages that may be left in compartment C that are too large to pass through the opening 29. On the end of the partition 28 which 1s exposed when the door 31 is opened is a sliding latch 33 which when operated in one direction fastens beneath the pivoted bottom and holds the same against movement, but when said latch is moved in the opposite direction, the bottomis free to be turned.

For supporting the box, staples 34 may be employed which pass around the post 35,

the ends of (said staplesentering the .compartments B andC and are there secured by. nuts 36 which rigidly fasten the letter box on the post. 4

In'using the letter box, mail to be collected is dropped through the opening 19 into the compartment A, the mail falling upon the pivoted bottom 18 to ther with any money that may be require to pay for stamps to be placed thereon by the postman. Should the signal flag be in its depressed position the bottom 18 will stand vertically as shown in Fig. 4 so that letters can not be inserted in the compartment until the flag has been raised and the bottom turned into horizontal position. Upon arrival of the war y and through this movement cause the bottom to dro .the contents of compartment A into the cliute 26. The articles sliding to the bottom of the chute are held by the stop 27 in position for easy removal. The chute is curved transversely and downwardly inclined toward the stop, therefore, the articles falling into the chute will collect at the open end so that easy and-quick removal is readily accomplished. Should there be any valuables deposited in compartment A, the. door 31 will be opened and the latch 33 moved endwise to pass below the bottom .18 to prevent turning the same bottom.

In delivering mail, the postman drops letters and papers through the opening 29, the

mail sliding downwardly over the plate 16 (postman he will turn the flag downfallsaipon the partition 28 that forms the bottom of compartment B, in easy position for removal by the owner of the box when he opens the door 31. Parcel post packages will be placed in compartment C and the door locked.

It will be observed upon reference to Fig.'

4 that the pivots upon which the bottomv 18 is supported are placed eccentrically of the center of said-bottom so that said bottom will normally tend to retain its horizontal lection of rain water in the chute, perforations 42 are made at the lowest point in the chute so that whatever water enters the chute will immediately .run ofi.

Having described my invention, I claim: 1. Alerter box having a compartment for letters delivered by carrier, a separate compartment for packages, a single hinged closure for both compartments to permit \simultaneous access thereto, a compartment for letters to be mailed, a hinged bottom normally closing the latter compartment, means without the box for swinging the bottom to empty the contents of said compartment and locking means for preventing said bottom from swinging covered by said hinged closure. y

2. A letter box having a compartment for letters delivered by carrier, a compartment for packages, a single hinged closure for both said compartments, a compartment for letters to be mailed, an inclined chute below the latter compartment, a swinging part1- tion between the compartment and the chute,

. both said compartments, a compartment for letters tobe mailed, an inclined chute below said latter compartment, a stop at the lower end of said chute, a hinged bottom normally closing communication between said chute and the compartment above, means exterior of the letter box for swinging said bottom to open communication between the chute and the compartment, and locking means for said bottom protected against tampering by saidrhinged closure.

4. A compartment letter box including a compartment for letters to be mailed having an opening in one end of the box for the passage of letters, a hinged bottom for said compartment normally extending across and closing said compartment but adapted to be tilted to extend across the letter opening and prevent the'introduction of letters into the compartment, and means exterior of the letter box connected to said bottom for tilting said bottom.

5. A letter box having a compartment for letters delivered by'carrier, a compartment for packages, a hinged closure for said compartments, a compartment for letters to be mailed, a hinged bottom for .said latter compartment, and a sliding bolt for locking said bottom to close the compartment above, said 40 bolt adapted to be covered by the hinged closure.

6. A letter box having a compartment for letters delivered by carrier, a compartment for packages below the first named compartment, a partition between said compartments, a hinged closure for said compartments, a compartment for receiving letters to be mailed, a swinging bottom for the latter compartment eccentrically pivoted to the box to normally remain closed, a signal flag connected to said bottom and movable therewith, and a bolt for locking said bottom in closed position slidably mounted on the partition between the first named com- 55 partments.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JULIUS A. DIDSCHUNEIT.

Witnesses:

IDA C. WELCH, G. L. CLYBURN. 

